Linking device for connecting secondary lens to spectacles

ABSTRACT

A linking device for attaching secondary lenses to a pair of eyeglasses incorporates a magnetic component that allows the main body to be installed either on the end piece or on the bridge thereof, corresponding to the position of at least one magnetic holding pad on the secondary lenses; alternatively, the magnetic component can also be installed on two ends or in the middle section of the secondary lenses, corresponding to the position of at least one holding pad on the frame of eye glasses. Under such design, a pair of secondary lenses can be magnetically mounted onto the frame of a pair of regular eye glasses in front of the glass lenses as removable sunglasses.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to a linking device for connectingsecondary lenses to regular eye glasses, in particular to a linkingdevice that has a magnetic component to allow secondary lenses to beattached onto the frame of the regular eye glasses and positioned infront of the glass lens of the eye glasses.

[0003] 2. Description of Related Arts

[0004] There is a type of removable sunglasses in fashion that allowscolor filtering lens to be attached onto the regular eye glasses withouthaving to change glasses or to use any screws to hold them together.This new type of sunglasses incorporates a magnetic component either onthe eye glasses or on the secondary lenses, which corresponds to theposition of a magnetic holding pad on the counterpart, whereby asecondary lenses is attached onto the regular eye glasses as removablesunglasses by action of the magnetic component. When the ambient lightgets too strong and causes irritation to the eyes, a person only has totake out a pair of secondary lenses and fit it onto the frame of theoriginal eye glasses thus gaining the benefit of sunglasses. When thesunglasses are not needed, the person can remove the secondary lenseswhilst still wearing the original eye glasses for reading or othernormal functions making it unnecessary to change glasses.

[0005] This type of removable sunglasses employing magnetic force toconnect the secondary lenses to the regular eye glasses has a magneticcomponent installed either on the bridge or on the two opposing endpieces of the eye glasses, which correspond to the position of amagnetic holding pad on the secondary lenses, such that the secondarylenses can be coupled with the frame of eye glasses as removablesunglasses. According to the conventional design, each pair ofsunglasses has a magnetic holding pad created at a unique spot on theframe for coupling with the secondary lenses belonging to the samecollection of lenses, which means the secondary lenses of differentcollections cannot be used interchangeably. A purchaser of thesunglasses has to buy the whole collection including the eye glasses andthe whole series of lenses provided for changing the appearance ofsunglasses. The purchaser of sunglasses cannot buy the secondary lensesalone, because it does not fit the original eye glasses. Thus, it iswasteful and uneconomic for a consumer to have to buy specific sets ofsunglasses for each collection. Furthermore, the purchaser of thesunglasses also has to consider the adaptation period for each and everyset of new lenses in the whole collection.

[0006] The present invention has made certain modification to theregular linking device to make the connection between the secondarylenses and the spectacle frame applicable across different sets ofsunglasses.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] The main object of the present invention is to provide a newlinking device for connecting secondary lenses to regular eye glasses.The device incorporates a magnetic component mounted at an appropriatelocation on the frame of regular eye glasses, corresponding to theposition of a magnetic holding pad on the secondary lenses, whereby thesecondary lenses can be mounted over the glass lenses of the eye glasseswithout using screws or other holding means, and the secondary lenseswill be positioned in front of the glass lenses of the regular eyeglasses as removable sunglasses. A purchaser of sunglasses, inaccordance with the present invention, only needs to buy the secondarylenses and the linking device for fitting over the original eye glasses.

[0008] The second object of the present invention is to provide alinking device for connecting secondary lenses to regular eye glassesthat incorporates a magnetic component mounted at an appropriatelocation on the secondary lenses, corresponding to the position of amagnetic holding pad on the eye glasses, whereby the secondary lensescan be mounted over the glass lenses of the eye glasses without usingscrews or other holding means, and the secondary lenses will bepositioned in front of the glass lenses of the original eye glasses asremovable sunglasses. A purchaser of sunglasses only needs to select apair of eye glasses having a magnetic holding pad for coupling with thesecondary lenses so that the secondary lenses can be fitted onto the eyeglasses and worn as sunglasses.

[0009] The features and structure of the present invention will be moreclearly understood when taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010]FIG. 1 is an exploded diagram showing the linking device used toconnect the eye glasses and secondary lenses in accordance with thefirst embodiment of the invention;

[0011]FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an assembly of the eyeglasses and secondary lenses originally shown in FIG. 1;

[0012]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the eye glasses and the linkingdevice in accordance with the second embodiment of the invention;

[0013]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the structure of the linkingdevice in accordance with the third embodiment of the invention;

[0014]FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the assembly of the linkingdevice on the bridge of eye glasses originally shown in FIG. 4;

[0015]FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the structure of the linkingdevice in accordance with the fourth embodiment of the invention;

[0016]FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the structure of the linkingdevice in accordance with the fifth embodiment of the invention;

[0017]FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the structure and shape of thelinking device in accordance with the sixth embodiment of the invention;

[0018]FIG. 9 is an exploded diagram showing the eye glasses andsecondary lenses connected by the linking device in accordance with thesixth embodiment;

[0019]FIG. 10 is a front view of the assembly of the spectacle andsecondary lenses as practiced by the sixth embodiment;

[0020]FIG. 11 shows the placement of the linking device on the upper andlower portions of the two end pieces of the eye glasses for connectingthe secondary lenses of a different model, as practiced by the sixthembodiment of the invention;

[0021]FIG. 12 shows the placement of the linking device on the upper andlower portions of the two end pieces of the eye glasses for connectingsecondary lenses of still another model, as practiced by the sixthembodiment of the invention;

[0022]FIG. 13 is an exploded diagram showing the linking deviceinstalled on the two end pieces of the eye glasses as practiced by theseventh embodiment of the invention; and

[0023]FIG. 14 is an exploded diagram showing the linking deviceinstalled on the two end pieces of the eye glasses as practiced by theeighth embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0024] The present invention provides a linking device for connectingsecondary lenses to a pair of regular eye glasses. FIG. 1 shows thestructure of a regular eye glasses (10), in which a bridge (12) is usedto join two adjacent glass lenses (11), enclosed by an extension bar(13) on the periphery of the two glass lenses (11), and two end pieces(not identified) are formed at the opposing ends of the extension bar(13). There are several types of eye glasses commonly worn by ordinaryconsumers, including eye glasses with rims, rimless glasses, and pinchnose type.

[0025] A pair of secondary lenses (20) as shown in FIG. 1 is mountedover the front of the glass lenses by means of a magnetic holding pad(21) having a permanent magnet embedded therein, and a linking device(30) has incorporated a magnetic component (32) in a main body (31),which could be a magnet or a magnetizable object. In the presentinvention, the linking device (30) for connecting secondary lenses (20)to regular eye glasses can be installed either on the bridge (12) or onopposing end pieces of regular eye glasses (10); alternatively thelinking device (30) can also be installed on the secondary lenses (20)in like manner.

[0026] In FIGS. 1 and 2, the linking device (30) can be installed on thebridge (12) of the eye glasses (10) to correspond to the magneticholding pad (21) embedded in the secondary lenses (20). The linkingdevice (30) can be welded or glued onto the bridge (12), enabling themagnetic holding pad (21) of the secondary lenses (20) to be coupledwith the magnetic component (32) on the linking device (30), such thatthe secondary lenses (20) can be connected to the eye glasses andpositioned in front of the glass lenses (11) as removable sunglasses,without having to purchase the whole outfit, a series of lenses in thecollection for a particular model of sunglasses, thus the product costscan be considerably reduced.

[0027] In FIG. 3 the linking device (40) has incorporated a magneticcomponent (42) in a main body (41) mounted on the bridge (12) of theregular eye glasses (10); alternatively, it can also be mounted on thesecondary lenses (20) to work with corresponding eye glasses.

[0028] In FIGS. 4 and 5, the linking device (50) like the previouslydescribed embodiment also has incorporated a magnetic component (52) inthe main body (51), but a clipping slot (53) is formed on one side ofthe main body (51), by which the secondary lenses (20) can be mounted onthe bridge (12). Alternatively, the clipping slot (54) can also beformed in the lower part of the main body (61) as shown in FIG. 6; orthe linking device (60) is also embedded with a magnetic component (62)on the main body (61) and a clipping slot (63) on one side of the mainbody (61), but there is a flange (64) at the end of the slot wall, asshown in FIG. 7.|

[0029] The above mentioned linking devices can all be installed on thebridge (12) or on the two end pieces (13) of the eye glasses (10)regardless of embodiments. the linking device (70), as shown in FIG. 9,is for installation on the two end pieces of the eye glasses (80),corresponding to the magnetic holding pad of the secondary lenses (90).In FIG. 9, the eye glasses (80) are formed by two glass lenses (81)connected by a bridge (82); an extension bar (83) encloses the two glasslenses (81); and on the opposing ends of the extension bar (83) are twoend pieces (831). The secondary lenses (90) with an embedded magneticholding pad (91) on two opposing ends is for placement over thecorresponding magnetic component (72) of the linking device (70), suchthat the pair of secondary lenses (90) is positioned in front of theglass lenses (81) of the eye glasses (80) as shown in FIG. 10.

[0030] In FIGS. 11 and 12, one of the two magnetic components (77) isinstalled on the upper portion of one of the two end pieces (831) andthe other magnetic component (77) is installed on the lower portion ofthe other end piece (831), and the corresponding upper and lowermagnetic holding pads (93, 94) on the secondary lenses (92) arerespectively coupled with the magnetic components (77) of the linkingdevice (70). In FIG. 13, the linking device (70) has a magneticcomponent (72) embedded in the main body (71), and a clipping slot (73)with a flange (74) disposed at the lower end, which allows the linkingdevice (70) to be clipped onto the extension bar (83) of the eye glasses(80), such that the secondary lenses (90) with magnetic holding pad (91)can be placed attached onto the linking device (70) and positioned infront of the glass lenses (81).

[0031] In FIG. 14, the main body (76) of the linking device (75) isformed from a malleable metal, one end of which has a magnetic component(77). By appropriate bending of the metal frame, the linking device canbe installed on the bridge (82) or on two extension bars (83) of the eyeglasses (80), such that the secondary lenses (90) can be mounted ontothe eye glasses (80) through magnetic coupling at the bridge (82) or twoextension bars (83) for positioning the secondary lenses (90) in frontof the regular eye glasses (80). The main body (76) of the linkingdevice (70) is coated with a layer of resin to enhance the mounting onthe frame of the eye glasses (80) and to prevent physical damage to thesurface coating on the eye glasses (80) causing ablation.

[0032] The linking device (75) as shown in FIG. 14 can be implementedwith metal wire sheathed in the main body (76), one end of which has amagnetic component (77). By appropriate bending of the metal wire, themain body (76) of the linking device (75) can be placed over thecorresponding magnetic holding pad (93, 94, and 96) of the secondarylenses (90) for positioning the secondary lenses over the glass lenses(81) of the eye glasses (80).

[0033] The secondary lenses (78) can be in the form of rimless lenses asshown in FIG. 14, wherein the magnetic holding pad (79) can be locatedon two ends or at the bridge portion, and the linking device (70) can beinstalled either on the extension bars (83) or the bridge (82) of theeye glasses (80) allowing the magnetic component (77) to be coupled withthe magnetic holding pad of the secondary lenses (70).

[0034] For all types of secondary lenses mentioned above, the magneticcomponent has to be installed on the secondary lenses, and then the mainbody of the linking device has to be made from magnetic material, suchas metal or other magnetizable object.

[0035] For eye glasses equipped with a magnetic holding pad, the linkingdevice has to be installed at the location corresponding to the magneticcomponent on the secondary lenses, such that the secondary lenses can beprecisely mounted over the rim of the eye glasses in front of the glasslenses.

[0036] If multiple secondary lenses are to be used interchangeably, thelinking device has to be installed at a location corresponding to themagnetic holding pad of the secondary lenses, so that other secondarylenses can also be fitted over the same eye glasses.

[0037] Looking at the different shapes of the linking devices in variousembodiment of the invention, it becomes clear that if the linking deviceis to be installed on a secondary lenses, one end of the main body canbe fitted with a clipping slot to allow the secondary lenses to bemounted attached onto the end piece or bridge of the eye glasses. At theend of the slot wall there is a flange to allow the linking device to befixed on the bridge of the secondary lenses, such that the secondarylenses can be adhered to the magnetic holding pad in the middle sectionof the eye glasses. Alternatively, the linking device can be installedon the opposing ends of the extension bar, such that the secondarylenses can be adhered to the magnetic holding pads on the upper andlower portions of the end pieces of the eye glasses.

[0038] The present invention enables a purchaser to convert regular eyeglasses into sun glasses by using a magnetized component, such that thepurchaser only has to purchase the secondary lenses for mounting overthe regular eye glasses, so that regular eye glasses can be changed overto become optional sunglasses. The present invention is applicable toall models of secondary lenses to be fitted over a pair of regular eyeglasses.

[0039] The foregoing description of the preferred embodiments of thepresent invention is intended to be illustrative only and, under nocircumstances, should the scope of the present invention be sorestricted.

What is claimed is:
 1. A linking device for connecting secondary lensesto regular eye glasses includes a main body being installed on theregular eye glasses and having a magnetic component that corresponds toat least one magnetic holding region on the secondary lenses to allowthe secondary lenses to be mounted over eye glasses.
 2. The linkingdevice as claimed in claim 1, wherein on one side of the main body ofthe linking device has a slot.
 3. The linking device as claimed in claim2, wherein a flange is formed at an end of the slot.
 4. The linkingdevice as claimed in claim 1, wherein the main body is made from amalleable metal and the magnetic component is installed on one end ofthe main body, such that by appropriate bending of the main body thelinking device is precisely secured to the magnetic holding region onthe secondary lenses.
 5. The linking device as claimed in claim 4,wherein the main body is covered with a layer of resin to enhance theconnection between the main body and the eye glasses, and further toprevent physical damage to the surface coating on a frame of the eyeglasses causing ablation,
 6. The linking device as claimed in claim 1,wherein a malleable metal wire is sheathed inside the main body that hasthe magnetic component installed on one end of the main body, such thatby appropriate bending of the malleable metal wire the linking device isprecisely secured to the magnetic holding region on the secondarylenses.
 7. The linking device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the linkingdevice is installed on a bridge portion of the eye glasses to correspondto the magnetic holding region in a middle section of the secondarylenses.
 8. The linking device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the linkingdevice is installed on a bridge portion of the eye glasses to correspondto the magnetic holding region in a middle section of the secondarylenses.
 9. The linking device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the linkingdevice is installed on a bridge portion of the eye glasses to correspondto the magnetic holding region in a middle section of the secondarylenses.
 10. The linking device as claimed in claim 4, wherein thelinking device is installed on a bridge portion of the eye glasses tocorrespond to the magnetic holding region in a middle section of thesecondary lenses.
 11. The linking device as claimed in claim 6, whereinthe linking device is installed on a bridge portion of the eye glasses,to correspond to the magnetic holding region in a middle section of thesecondary lenses.
 12. The linking device as claimed in claim 1, whereinthe linking device is secured to two extension bars of the regular eyeglasses to correspond to the magnetic holding regions an two ends of thesecondary lenses.
 13. The linking device as claimed in claim 2, whereinthe linking device is secured to two extension bars of the regular eyeglasses to correspond to the magnetic holding regions on two ends of thesecondary lenses.
 14. The linking device as claimed in claim 3, whereinthe linking device is secured to two extension bars of the regular eyeglasses to correspond to the magnetic holding regions on two ends of thesecondary lenses.
 15. The linking device as claimed in claim 4, whereinthe linking device is secured to two extension bars of the regular eyeglasses to correspond to the magnetic holding regions on two ends of thesecondary lenses.
 16. The linking device as claimed in claim 6, whereinthe linking device is secured to two extension bars of the regular eyeglasses to correspond to the magnetic holding regions on two ends of thesecondary lenses.
 17. The linking device as claimed in claim 1, whereinthe linking device is secured to upper and lower portions on twoopposing extension bars of the eye glasses to correspond to the magneticholding regions on upper and lower portions on two ends of the secondarylenses.
 18. The linking device as claimed in claim 2, wherein thelinking device is secured to upper and lower portions of two end piecesof the eye glasses to correspond to the magnetic holding regions anupper and lower portions on two ends of the secondary lenses
 19. Thelinking device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the linking device issecured to upper and lower portions of two end pieces of the eye glassesto correspond to the magnetic holding regions on upper and lowerportions on two ends of the secondary lenses.
 20. The linking device asclaimed in claim 4, wherein the linking device is secured to upper andlower portions of the two end pieces of the eye glasses to correspond tothe magnetic holding regions on the upper and lower portions on two endsof the secondary lenses.
 21. The linking device as claimed in claim 6,wherein the linking device is secured to the upper and lower portions ofthe two end pieces of the eye glasses to correspond to the magneticholding regions on the upper and lower portions on two ends of thesecondary lenses.
 22. A linking device for connecting secondary lensesto regular eye glasses includes a main body being secured to thesecondary lenses and having a magnetic component that corresponds to atleast one magnetic holding region on the regular eye glasses to allowthe secondary lenses to be mounted over the eye glasses.
 23. The linkingdevice as claimed in claim 22, wherein the main body has a slot on thelower portion.
 24. The linking device as claimed in claim 23, wherein atthe end of the slot wall on the main body is a flange for fixing thelinking device at a specific location on the extension bar on thesecondary lenses.
 25. The linking device as claimed in claim 22, whereinthe main body is made from malleable metal and the magnetic component isinstalled on one end of the main body, such that by appropriate bendingof the metal frame the linking device is positioned at a location toallow the magnetic holding region on the secondary lenses to correspondto the magnetic component on the eye glasses.
 26. The linking device asclaimed in claim 25, wherein the main body is covered by a layer ofresin to enhance the connection between the main body and the eyeglasses and to prevent physical damage to the surface coating of a frameon the eye glasses causing ablation.
 27. The linking device as claimedin claim 22, wherein a malleable metal wire is sheathed inside the mainbody with a magnetic component installed on one end, such that byappropriate bending of the metal wire the linking device is preciselypositioned to allow the magnetic component on the secondary lenses tocorrespond to the magnetic holding region on the eye glasses.
 28. Thelinking device as claimed in claim 22, wherein the linking device issecured to a bridge portion of the secondary lenses to allow themagnetic component thereon to correspond to the magnetic holding regionin the middle section of the eye glasses.
 29. The linking device asclaimed in claim 23, wherein the linking device is secured to a bridgeportion of the secondary lenses to allow the magnetic component thereonto correspond to the magnetic holding region in the middle section ofthe eye glasses.
 30. The linking device as claimed in claim 24, whereinthe linking device is secured to a bridge portion of the secondarylenses to show the magnetic component thereon to correspond to themagnetic holding region in the middle section of the eye glasses. 31.The linking device as claimed in claim 25, wherein the linking device issecured to a bridge portion of the secondary lenses to allow themagnetic component thereon to correspond to the magnetic holding regionin the middle section of the eye glasses.
 32. The linking device asclaimed in claim 27, wherein the linking device is secured to a bridgeportion of the secondary lenses to allow the magnetic component thereonto correspond to the magnetic holding region in the middle section ofthe eye glasses.
 33. The linking device as claimed in claim 22, whereinthe linking device is secured to two extension bars of the secondarylenses to correspond to the magnetic holding regions on two ends of theregular eye glasses.
 34. The linking device as claimed in claim 23,wherein the linking device is secured to two extension bars of thesecondary lenses to correspond to the magnetic holding regions on twoends of the regular eye glasses.
 35. The linking device as claimed inclaim 24, wherein the linking device is secured to two extension bars ofthe secondary lenses to correspond to the magnetic holding regions ontwo ends of the regular eye glasses.
 36. The linking device as claimedin claim 25, wherein the linking device is secured to two extension barsof the secondary lenses to correspond to the magnetic holding regions ontwo ends of the regular eye glasses.
 37. The linking device as claimedin claim 27, wherein the linking device is secured to two extension barsof the secondary lenses to correspond to the magnetic holding regions ontwo ends of the regular eye glasses,
 38. The linking device as claimedin claim 22, wherein the linking device is secured to upper and lowerportions an two ends of the extension bar on the secondary lenses toallow the magnetic holding regions thereon to correspond to the magneticholding regions on the upper and lower portions on opposing ends of theeye glasses.
 39. The linking device as claimed in claim 23, wherein thelinking device is secured to the upper and lower portions on two ends ofthe extension bar on the secondary lenses to allow the magnetic holdingregions thereon to correspond to the magnetic holding regions on theupper and lower portions on opposing ends of the eye glasses.
 40. Thelinking device as claimed in claim 24, wherein the linking device issecured to the upper arid lower portions on two ends of the extensionbar on the secondary lenses to allow the magnetic holding regionsthereon to correspond to the magnetic holding regions on the upper andlower portions on opposing ends of the eye glasses.
 41. The linkingdevice as claimed in claim 25, wherein the linking device is secured tothe upper and lower portions on two ends of the extension bar on thesecondary lenses to allow the magnetic holding regions thereon tocorrespond to the magnetic holding regions on the upper and lowerportions an opposing ends of the eye glasses.
 42. The linking device asclaimed in claim 27, wherein the linking device is secured to the upperand lower portions on two ends of the extension bar on the secondarylenses to allow the magnetic holding regions thereon to correspond tothe magnetic holding regions an the upper and lower portions on opposingends of the eye glasses.